Greek honey used in ancient medicine

[guy]

 

Honey has been used throughout antiquity for its purported health benefits. Today, Maluka honey from New Zealand and Australia is highly prized for its health benefits, but expensive.

The Greeks have also been promoting their honey, citing its long history of medical use. Ancient Greek physicians would have used honey in their therapeutic armamentarium for medical treatment throughout the Roman Empire.

 

Quote

 

”Honey in ancient Greece

Oenomel is an ancient Greek beverage consisting of honey and unfermented grape juice. It is sometimes used as a folk remedy for gout and certain nervous disorders (31). Hippocrates, the great Greek scientist, prescribed a simple diet, favouring honey given as oxymel (vinegar and honey) for pain, hydromel (water and honey) for thirst, and a mixture of honey, water and various medicinal substances for acute fevers (35). Also he utilized honey for baldness, contraception, wound healing, laxative action, cough and sore throat, eye diseases, topical antisepsis, prevention and treatment of scars.”

 

 

Summary: Although I’m always skeptical of reports of medical benefits based on folklore and anecdotes alone, I know a few people who swear by honey for treating leg ulcers. I’m not sure whether the wound response is due to its antibacterial effect, anti-inflammatory benefit, or occlusive nature. Maybe one of these, or other benefits of honey, promotes the wound response.

Not surprisingly, good medical research is increasingly supporting the medical use of honey in certain settings, especially wound care.

https://greekreporter.com/2021/09/19/greek-honey-for-beautiful-skin-hair-and-anti-aging/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3758027/

 

 

Edited April 19 by guy